Fruit Picking? We missed out on strawberry picking this year but if you follow me on Instagram, we made it just in time for the last weekend of the season for cherry picking. They even had peach picking there too so that was a bonus!

The weather was great and although my lil guy wasn’t too happy at first about his cherry stained hands, he had lots of fun after realizing that his hands weren’t really bleeding.

We got a good stash and are now overflowing with cherries at my house since we’ve also been buying them like crazy from the store because they are at an awesome price right now.

I made these gluten free Cherry Banana Muffins a few weeks ago with some cherries I bought and am tempted to make some more again with the fresh bounty we got from our cherry picking weekend.

These muffins are quick and easy to throw together and are a great way to use up some of those ripe bananas.

With no butter or refined sugar, these make a great healthy breakfast or any time treat.

Be sure to use certified gluten free oats or oat flour to ensure that they are gluten free.

They are moist and bursting with flavor from the sweet cherries and go perfectly with the dark chocolate chips.

With cherry season upon us, there’s no excuse not to load up on some fresh cherries and bake up a batch of these delicious muffins!

I’m also sharing these over at My Rays of Sunshine where I’m guest posting for Chastity today who is taking a well deserved family vacation.

She’s a sweet mother of three who shares her positive outlook on life and motherhood as well as beauty and style tips. She enjoys leading a healthy lifestyle by working out and fuelling up with gluten free snacks. So be sure to stop by and say “hi” and look around

Lovely comments

These look amazing Kelly! I love those bright red cherries and can just imagine how great they taste in muffins! I love that they’re easy to put together too ~ a bakers dream! And, I’ve been dreaming about fall too ~ my favorite season of the year! Have a beautiful week!Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen recently posted…Candied Pecans

I’ve never made or eaten any kind of cherry muffins, Kelly. My husband is a big fan of cherries and my main “muffin-man” so I have a feeling he’d love these. Time is flying but hope you are enjoying these summer days… : )

I cannot get enough fresh cherries right now. I think I’ve eaten my weight in them and still want more! What a fantastic way to showcase this wonderful fruit – and it’s healthy and gluten-free! Have a sweet weekend, Kelly!

I can’t believe it’s August! This summer is going by so fast. As much as I love Fall (it’s my favorite!) I don’t want time to go so quickly! These muffins sound delicious – love all the fresh cherries in here!! And the dark chocolate chips Happy weekend friend!Ashley recently posted…The Little Things – July 2014

Yum, these muffins looks so good. I love all those big pieces of cherries. I am going crazy for the cherries right now. They are so delicious! I too can’t believe it is August. I’m already noticing a slight change in our weather and I know Fall isn’t too far away.

I hope you didn’t have a hard time pitting them the way I did, your so lucky to live in place where you guys can pick fresh cherries! These muffins look so good Kelly! Have a great weekend Shundara@savynaturalista recently posted…Fresh Cherry Scones (Low-fat)

Yay! These look crazy delicious! Cherries are so beautiful and so delicious! I’m going to be so bummed when they are out of season!Kelly – A Side of Sweet recently posted…Black Cherry Buttermilk Ice Cream

Mmmm, I love how those muffins are just exploding with cherries! I had to do a double-take when I read that it is already August – it definitely hit me fast too. I have no idea where the summer went!Katy recently posted…Easy breakfast: Cream Cheese and Apple Toast

Oooh yum! These muffins look great, Kelly! I’m super jealous that you got to go cherry picking. I’d love to fill my kitchen with them! I do have a few almost-too-ripe bananas to use up though…I’m thinking these muffins would do the trick! Enjoy your weekend.

Wow those cherries look sensational! Love these gluten free muffins! I’ve been trying to cook more gluten free these days, so I’ll have to try these out! I wish I could go cherry picking down here in GA. That would make me beyond happy! Pinned!

Oh wow these look amazing and I can’t believe they are gluten free too boot! Cherry and chocolate are such an amazing pairing and the fact they are healthy as well great I will happily tuck into these for breakfast!

I’m so happy the weekend turned out amazing with cherry picking – a family friend bought a massive basket of cherries from somewhere in Oregon and within a few hours, these cherries were gone because they were so tasty and juicy! Your muffins look so delicious with dark chocolate & cherries…I make my vegan muffins with flax seeds or Ener-G Egg Replacer as an egg replacer and they turned out yummy. Have a great weekend, Kelly!

These look like such a decadent treat- it’s almost hard to believe they’re healthy! Cherries are one of my favorite things about summer and I especially love when they’re paired with chocolate. 😀Allie | Baking a Moment recently posted…Key Lime Posset

Cherry and chocolate is such a heavenly combination! Maybe I can restrain from stuffing my face with my cherry supply long enough to make these Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted…What to Eat in Paris

Really really love fruit picking, especially cherry picking I only do it once every couple of years though because for me, the closest place for me to go cherry picking is about 6 hours drive away so we usually make it into a weekend away! Love coming home with a stash of cherries though! Your muffins sound really good- I really love the combination of cherries and chocolate. Definitely would love these for breakfast! Wishing it was cherry season here right now….Von recently posted…Japanese Sesame Salad Dressing

We haven’t been cherry picking in a while either and definitely had lots of fun. Sorry to hear that you don’t have cherry picking close by, store-bought ones are still really really good when they are in season Thanks so much for stopping by and your sweet comment Von

I am in complete denial. Where did the summer go???
I cannot believe these are GF – they don’t look dry or oaty at all! I love that they are chock full of fruit and of course, chocolate is a must. Pinning these! Happy weekend Kelly!

Fruit picking sounds like so much fun, I’m so sad I haven’t done any of it this summer yet. I also can’t believe how fast August has come! Before we know it, it will be Christmas, ha! I love all the flavors that you added to these muffins! I love when something is healthy, but delicious so that I can eat a bunch and not feel guilty!Isadora @ she likes food recently posted…Calabacitas Orzo Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing {gf+v}

Whoa!!!!! Just looking at the beautifullllllllll deep red color of the cherries is making me DROOOOOL! Imagine my state as I gawk at these muffins! They look incredibleeeeeeeee Kelly!!!!!! Loving the flavor combination too!!!!! I’m totalllly trying these!!!! Besides, they are healthy, so breakfast is sorted!!!! 😀Samina | The Cupcake Confession recently posted…Mushroom Masala Naan Pizza

Cherries and chocolate and banana are such a wonderful combo in muffin form, add to that, these beauts are gluten free AND refined sugar free too!!! I think I have all the reasons I need to eat a second and a third!
Happy Monday Kelly – it is indeed insane how quickly 2014 is flying by – can you believe it will be Christmas in 5 months?!?!?!

Cherries, Banana, and Chocolate Chips. Such a great combo! This is the perfect recipe to enjoy summer while it’s still here… I mean this is practically summer in muffin form :). They look amazing, Kelly!!

Those cherry chunks are SO stinking pretty Kelly!! I’m obsessed with the use of ingredients…so clean and guilt free food. My kind of muffin I love cherries but never ever cook with them. Even after seeing a million awesome cherry recipes this year lol I think I have an underlying fear of pitting cherries! Silly huh?! Thanks dear!Kelly – LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE recently posted…Road to Culinary School

those cherries look so good and I’m always looking for easy breakfast ideas (gluten free) – I could eat a few of these with a large cup of coffee!
Do you think I could skip the applesauce? or replace it with something?

I should definitely try more gluten free recipes, especially when they involve chocolate and cherries! These muffins are amazing. Can I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted…Creamy Vegetarian Tuscan Bean Minestrone

YUM! These look so delicious!! Chocolate cherry?! What a great combo!! YUM!! Also. I love that they are gluten free! My mum recently made some blueberry g.free muffins for a family vacation we went on! So good!! I LOVE muffins, but rarely get to eat them being gluten free! Great healthy recipe!!